Toggle clamp



W. C. WESTON TOGGLE CLAMP July 11, 1939.

Filed Nov. 16, 1936 INVENTOR \M. CALVIN WESTON BY W ATT NEY5.

Patented July 11, 1939 TO GGLE CLAMP W. Calvin Weston, Detroit, ltlich assignor to The Murray Corp. of America, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Delaware Application November 16, 1936, Serial. No. 111,035

6 Claims.

This invention relates to clamp constructions and in particular, relates to toggle clamp constructions adapted to clamp a plurality of members in position relative to each other for working upon the members.

One of the principal objects 'of the present invention is to provide a clamping. mechanism in association with a supporting jig, the construction of the clamping mechanism being such that the work may be securely held in' the jig for work operations thereon when the clamping mechanism is in one position and when the clamping mechanism is in another position, the work members may be conveniently placed into position on or removed from the supporting jig.

I 7 Another object of the present invention is to provide a clamping mechanism which is associated with a slotted plate member, the construction and arrangements of the slots and the association of the toggle mechanism with the slots being such that a mechanical advantage is obtained by the toggle mechanism to securely and firmly hold members being worked upon in place during the working operation.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a toggle clamping mechanism of simplified construction and positive action; and to provide a toggle clamping mechanism which is moved to a work clamping position by a downwardly direct-ed pressure on one portionof the toggle mechanism.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a simplified toggle clamping mechanism which may readily replace known toggle clamping mechanism with a minimum of alteration.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following specification, the drawing relating thereto, and from the claims hereinafter set forth.

In the drawing in which like numerals are used to designate like parts in the several views throughout:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary, perspective .view of a clamping mechanism embodying features of the present invention illustrating a manner of use of the clamping mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the lin'e 2--2 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 3--3 of Fig. 1.

For the purpose of exemplification', the present invention is illustrated in use with a supporting jig within which the members forming a rear deck door'of a vehicle are supported in proper relation to each other while a spot "welding operation is performed thereon. It is to be understood though that the clamping mechanism is of general utility and'that the particular use shown is merely by way of illustration.

Referring to the drawing, a supporting jig iii is'illustrated, the supporting jig being substan tially-rectangular in shape, although only one corner thereof is shown. The jig l0 includes a supporting member l2, preferably of wood, and having its upper surface curvedto 'correspond to the shape of the article being worked upon which issupported thereon; Channel members I4 are disposed around the member I2 adjacent the edges thereof and are secured'to thememberf|2 by means of screws or the like.

In the illustration, the article being worked upon is a rear deck door of a vehicle comprising a door panel l8 having its edges 20 flanged upwardly and having any insulating body 22 of rubber, fabric, or other suitable insulatingmaterial covering the upper surfaces of the panel l8. A reinforcing member 24, of suitable design, is disposed over the insulating member 22 and has portions extending around theedges of the rear deck door with upstanding flange portions 26 facing andengaging,theportions 28 of the panel I8 around the periphery thereof.

The panel l8, insulating member 22, and reinforcing member 24 are mounted in the jig in therelation shown and, are clamped therein by the toggle clamping, mechanism of the present invention while the upstanding portions 20 and 26 of the panel l8 and reinforcing member 24, respectively, are spot welded together.

A plurality of clamping'me'chanism 28 are secured to the supporting jig at spaced intervals therearound to adequately and securely hold the members being worked upon during the working operation and to expose those portions of the members being Worked upon so that these portions are readily accessible for working.

'Each clamping mechanism 28 comprises a bracket 30 which is suitably and firmly secured to the channel member [4 and has either integrally formed therewith or attached thereto, an upstanding plate member 32.

The plate member 32 is preferably so constructed and arranged relative to the bracket 30 and to the supporting jig that it lies in a plane substantially normal to the plane of the sup porting jig. The plate member 32 is provided with elongated cam slots 34 and 36 therethrough Which are adapted to have operatively associated therewith portions of the toggle mechanism in a manner to be described.

The toggle mechanism includes a work engaging member 38 adjustably received through an opening at the inner end of an L-shaped yoke member 40. The yoke member 40 is provided with a longitudinally extending slot 42 opening outwardly at its outer end and forming two side members 44 and 46 which are adapted to embrace the sides of the plate member 32 when the clamping mechanism is assembled.

Openings are provided through the side members 44 and 45, one of the openings being located adjacent the outer end and the other openings being located intermediate the ends of the yoke member 40. A pivot pin 48 is received within the intermediate openings and is slidably received within the slot 36. Another pivot pin 50 is received within the openings at the outer end of the member 4i) and is also received for sliding movement within the elongated slot 34.

Two plate members 52 and 54 form a second linkage member and are pivotally connected to the outer ends of the pivot pin 50 engaging the outer surfaces of the members 48 and 56 respectively, adjacent the ends of these members.

A third elongated member 56 is slotted longitudinally at its inner end and is provided with openings therethrough at its inner end through which a pivot pin 51 is received, the pivot pin 51 being pivotally received through an open ng 7:1 b plate member 32.

An opening is also provided through the member 56 intermediate its ends and pivotally receives therethrough a pivot pin 58 which projects outwardly from the sides of the member 56, the pro jecting ends of the pivot pin being received within openings at the outer ends of the plate members 52 and 54, respectively. A stop member 60 extends transversely of the member 56 and is fixed to the members 52 and 54 respectively in order to limit the movement of the members forming the toggle mechanism.

From an inspection of the figures it can be seen that the slots 34 and 36 are so constructed that as the toggle mechanism is operated by a downward pressure on the member 55 a mechanical advantage is obtained at that portion of the toggle mechanism which engages the Work member. It can also be seen that by pressing downwardly on the elongated member 56 that the toggle mechanism is operated to firmly clamp the door panel l8 and the reinforcing member 24 into position relative to each other for the working operation.

Formal changes may be made in the specific embodiments of the invention described without departing from the spirit and substance of the broad invention the scope of which is commensurate with the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A clamping mechanism comprising a support, a plate member having a plurality of slots therein, said plate member being associated with said support and located in a plane substantially normal to the plane of said support, and a toggle linkage mechanism operatively connected to said plate member, said toggle mechanism including a first member having a Work engaging means connected to the inner end thereof and being movably connected to said plate member through the slots therein at its outer end and at an intermediate point, a second member pivotally connected to said first member at the outer end of said first member, and a third member pivotally connected to said support at its inner end and pivotally connected to said second member at an intermediate point on said third member.

2. A clamping mechanism comprising a support, a plate member having a plurality of slots therein, said plate member being associated with said support and located in a plane substantially normal to the plane of said support, and a toggle linkage mechanism operatively connected to said plate member, said toggle mechanism including a first member having a work engaging means connected to the inner end thereof and being slidably connected to said plate member through the slots therein at its outer end and at an intermediate point, a second member pivotally connected to said first member at the outer end of said first member, and a third member pivotally connected to said support at its inner end and pivotally connected to said second member at an intermdiate point on said third member, the construction and arrangement of said slots relative M to said toggle mechanism being such that a mechanical advantage is obtained by said toggle mechanism.

3. A clamping mechanism comprising a support, a plate member having a plurality of slots therein, said plate member being associated with said support and located in a plane substantially normal to the plane of said support, and a toggle linkage mechanism operatively connected to said plate member, said toggle mechanism including a first member having a Work engaging means connected to the inner end thereof and being slidably connected to said plate member through the slots therein at its outer end and at an intermediate point, a second member pivotally connected to said first member at the outer end of said first member, a third member pivotally connected to said support at its inner end and pivotally connected to said second member at an intermediate point on said third member, and a stop member connected to said second member to limit the movement of said toggle mechanism.

Apparatus for clamping a plurality of members relative to each other comprising, in combination, a supporting jig for said member, and a plurality of clamping mechanisms at spaced intervals around said supporting jig, said clamping mechanisms each comprising a plate member having a plurality of slots therein, said plate member being fixed relative to said support and located in a plane substantially normal to the plane of said support, and a toggle linkage mechanism operatively connected to said plate member, said toggle linkage mechanism including a first member having a work engaging means connected to the inner end thereof and being slidably connected to said plate member through the slots therein at its outer end and at an intermediate point, a second member pivotally connected to said first member at the outer end of said first member, and a third member pivotally connected to said support at its inner end and pivotally connected to said second member at an intermediate point on said third member, the construction and arrangement of said slots being such that a mechanical advantage is obtained by said toggle mechanismlor securely clamping said third named plurality of members relative to each other.

5. A clamping mechanism comprising a sup port, a plate member having a plurality of slots therein, said plate member being associated with said support and located in a plane substantially normal to the plane of said support, and a toggle linkage mechanism operatively connected to said plate member, said toggle mechanism including a first member having a work engaging means connected to the inner end thereof and being movably connected to said plate member through the slots therein at its outer end and at an intermediate point, a second member pivotally connected to said first member at the outer end of said first member, and a third member pivotally connected to said support at its inner end and pivotally connected to said second member at an intermediate point on said third member the construction and arrangement of said slots and said linkage mechanism being such that said work engaging means is moved into engagement withthe Work upon moving said third member downwardly.

6. A clamping mechanism comprising a support, a plate member having cam slots therein associated with said support, said plate member being located in a plane substantially normal to the plane of said support, and a toggle linkage mechanism operatively connected to said plate member through the cam slots therein, said toggle linkage mechanism including a handle portion and having a Work-engaging member attached thereto, the construction and arrangement of the cam slots being such that for a uniform movement of the handle portion to the Work-engaging position the work-engaging member first rapidly approaches clamping position and then more slowly moves into clamping position as the handle member approaches the end of its travel.

W. CALVIN WESTON. 

